“They hold hands in private, so we know that there’s a coupleness that we weren’t seeing in public or at the inauguration,” she added.

Wood believes the way Donald patted Melania’s hand – using his flat palm with his fingers separated – was not an affectionate gesture.

“It could have been affection if he’d cupped his hand, if he’d done it with sweetness, or if he had kissed her and done it,” she said, but Wood believes the gesture reveals the power Donald has over Melania.

“He pulls it up towards him, it has some admonishing to it, some power, and then he has that flat hand to say, ‘No no.’ He’s smiling as he does it. He’s not mad. He’s fully in control of what’s happening,” she explained.